Boeing to raise up to $19 bln to shore up finances, stave off downgrade
Offering includes 90 mln common stock, $5 bln convertible securities
Boeing shares down 2% premarket
Planemaker burning cash due to strike
S&P says stock offering 'favorable' for credit quality
Adds bullets, S&P comment in paragraph 5
By Utkarsh Shetti
Oct 28 (Reuters) -Boeing BA.N on Monday launched a stock offering that could raise up to $19 billion as the planemaker looks to strengthen its finances squeezed by an over month-long strike by its workers and preserve its investment-grade credit rating.
The company is offering 90 million in common stock and $5 billion in mandatory convertible securities.
Based on Friday's closing price, Boeing can raise $13.95 billion from the common stock offering, though such issues are typically priced at a discount to ensure enough demand.
The company's shares were last down 2% in premarket trading on Monday.
"The offering is certainly favorable for credit quality. We'll factor it into our assessment of the rating in the context of continued negative free cashflow," Ben Tsocanos, aerospace director at S&P Global Ratings, said.
A capital raise is essentially for Boeing to preserve its investment-grade credit rating. Rating agencies have warned that a prolonged strike may lead to a downgrade in the planemaker's credit rating, likely pushing up the cost of capital.
The move will boost Boeing's battered finances, which have worsened since roughly 33,000 of its workers represented by the machinists union walked off their jobs in September, halting production of models including its cash-cow 737 MAX aircraft.
The planemaker was already reeling under a regulator-imposed cap on production of its MAX jets after a January mid-air panel blowout.
The combination of labor woes and its production problems have caused it to burn cash in the last three quarters. Last week, the company reported a $6 billion third-quarter loss and said it would burn cash next year.
The same day, striking workers rebuffed an improved contract as it fell short of their demands of a 40% wage hike and restoration of a defined-benefit pension plan, which Boeing is unlikely to reinstate.
The strike is costing the company more than $1 billion per month, according to one estimate that was released before Boeing announced it would cut 10% of its workforce.
Earlier this month, Boeing entered into a $10 billion credit agreement with banks and announced plans to raise up to $25 billion through stock and debt offerings.
S&P Global has warned of a ratings downgrade if Boeing slipped below target cash balance of $10 billion or if the company had to increase leverage to meet debt maturities.
Boeing, which has never fallen below the investment-grade rating, had cash and marketable securities of $10.50 billion as of Sept. 30.
It has $11.5 billion of debt maturing through Feb. 1, 2026, and is committed to issuing $4.7 billion of its shares to acquire Spirit AeroSystems SPR.N and assume its debt.
Reuters had reported earlier this month Boeing was examining options to raise billions of dollars through a sale of stock and equity-like securities.
Boeing said on Monday it intends to use proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include paying off debt.
Boeing's debt levels remain high https://reut.rs/3BOPkjh
Boeing Q3 2024 results: Share price movement in 2024 https://reut.rs/4e0dPaO
Writing by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.
